EMDR Therapists in East Lansing, Michigan

Release the weight of the past and move toward a life of healing and possibility. Online and in-person sessions available.

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You’ve tried to move on.

You’ve read the books, talked it out in therapy, and maybe even told yourself to “just get over it.” And still, those old moments creep back in. You find yourself reliving the past, feeling anxious or ashamed for reasons you can’t explain. You’re worn down from avoiding certain people or places, overthinking every little thing, and holding it all together on the outside.

This isn’t weakness. It’s your nervous system doing its best to protect you. EMDR works with that natural survival response, helping your brain and body finally process what’s been stuck so you can feel grounded, whole, and fully present in your life again.

What EMDR can help with:

  • PTSD and complex trauma

  • Panic attacks and anxiety

  • Nightmares and flashbacks

  • Abuse and relationship trauma

  • Car accidents or medical trauma

  • Childhood neglect

  • Grief and loss

  • Low self-esteem and shame

  • Feeling “stuck” in talk therapy

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach developed to help the brain reprocess traumatic or highly distressing experiences.

When something overwhelming or traumatic happens, the brain doesn’t always store those memories the same way it does ordinary events. Instead, they can get “stuck” in a raw, unprocessed form—showing up later as flashbacks, panic, or a sudden flood of emotions. EMDR helps your brain finally finish what it couldn’t at the time, so those memories lose their intensity and no longer feel like they’re happening in the present.

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HOW IT WORKS

EMDR facilitates the adaptive reprocessing of traumatic memories so they can be fully integrated.

As the brain processes them, the memories lose their intensity and emotional charge, allowing you to recall the event without reliving it.

Here are the steps you can expect:

  • We start by talking through what brings you in and helping you build tools to stay grounded. This includes “resourcing” (developing calming strategies, mental images, and coping skills) to feel safe and stable during and between sessions.

  • Together, we’ll identify the painful memories or experiences—and the negative beliefs that came out of them—that keep showing up in your life today and holding you back.

  • Using a form of bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sound), your brain can process memories in a new way. You don’t have to share every detail of what happened—the goal is to help your nervous system finally “unfreeze” those experiences.

  • As processing happens, the emotional intensity begins to fade. The old beliefs you’ve held can start to loosen, and new, healthier beliefs can start to take hold. Instead of “I’m powerless,” you can feel more like, “I can protect myself now.”

  • Over time, you can begin to notice more space between you and your triggers. Your body can calm, your choices can become clear, and you can finally start living in the present, not the past.

Healing doesn’t erase the past. It allows you to reclaim your life.

Reach out today

Reach out today

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FAQs

  • Not at all. One of the strengths of EMDR is that you don’t have to go into graphic detail about your experiences. We work with images, sensations, and emotions, and the processing happens at a pace that feels safe for you. You’ll always have control over how much you share.

  • You are always in control and safe during EMDR. Unlike hypnosis, you are awake, alert, and aware the entire time. Some memories can bring up strong feelings, but we work together to keep you anchored in the present. 

  • Not at all. EMDR helps with challenging events like accidents, assaults, or disasters, to other things like chronic stress, bullying, or painful experiences that have built up over time.  If something from the past is affecting how you feel now, EMDR may be a good fit.

  • Yes. EMDR can help you get to the root experiences that created patterns of fear, shame, or self-doubt. By addressing those at their source, people often notice changes in how they respond to stress, triggers, and self-critical thoughts.